‘Goodfellas’ Scribe Takes Whack at Adapting Movie for TV

Joe Pesci won an Oscar for his unforgettable performance in the original "Goodfellas" in 1990 (Photo: Getty Images)

The writer behind the classic gangster film “Goodfellas” is reportedly trying to adapt the movie for an AMC TV series.

The project does not appear to have the participation of original gangsta principals such as Martin Scorsese (who directed the 1990 hit), star Ray Liotta, or co-stars Joe Pesci (who won the movie’s sole Oscar) and Robert De Niro.

But those who are involved in the proposed adaptation include Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the movie’s screenplay (and the original book titled “Wiseguys”), and the movie’s producer, Irwin Winkler, according to the showbiz Web site Deadline.com, which reported the story here.

But before you hail the arrival of a TV series based on one of your all-time favorite gangster movies, a word of caution: This project is described only as “in development” in both the Deadline story and by sources who corroborated its status for us.

What that means: “In development” means only that this writer and this producer have put their heads together to try and figure out how this movie might be made into a TV series. And they’ve likely asked AMC if it would be interested in such a series. AMC probably said yes, and encouraged the writer/producer team to write a script or an outline that would indicate how such a series would play.

At the present time, there is no commitment on AMC’s part to pay for the production of a pilot, much less a full season’s worth of 13 episodes. Stay tuned.

And while you’re at it, enjoy the original trailer for this great film right here: